A New York judge sentenced a woman who pleaded guilty to fatally shoving an 87-year-old Broadway singing coach onto a Manhattan sidewalk to six months more in prison than the eight years that had been previously reached in a plea deal.

  • Queen HawlSera@lemm.ee
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    9 months ago

    While this woman is pure scum and I wish her the worst, is the legal system allowed to do that? Like is it constitutional for you to reach a plea deal and then have years added to it? Like isn’t a plea deal like the final say?

    • Salamendacious@lemmy.worldOP
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      9 months ago

      Plea deals are between the prosecutor and the defendant. The judge can sentence you to anything. That’s why, frequently, prosecutors will drop the most serious charges in a plea deal. That way the judge is limited to sentencing to only the lesser charges.

    • uhmbah@lemmy.ca
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      9 months ago

      I believe the plea deal is between the defense and prosecutors. Judge has the last say.

      As you can tell, I ain’t a lawyer.